Page 1716 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 1 May 2012
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Key government initiatives that were referred to in the report include the development of legislated targets for greenhouse gas reduction and use of renewable energy; Weathering the change: action plan 2, with a draft released for public consultation in December last year; a number of water supply measures, including the enlargement of the Cotter Dam; increased focus on stormwater harvesting and water-sensitive urban design; catchment management projects such as the lower Cotter and Upper Murrumbidgee Demonstration Reach; the addition of three new reserves—Callum Brae, Jerrabomberra West and Kama—to the ACT nature reserve system; innovative biodiversity conservation projects, including research and restoration underway in the Mulligans Flat-Goorooyaroo Woodland and analysis of ecological connectivity for climate change in the ACT and the surrounding region; the strategic bushfire management plan that balances safety and ecological needs; the release of transport for Canberra and the strategic public transport network plan; the development of the ACT planning strategy; and progress in the rollout of public place recycling, business waste programs and e-waste actions.
Since the end of the reporting period for this report, the government has finalised its energy policy, waste management strategy and transport for Canberra policy. Key energy initiatives have also been given priority. The large-scale solar auction process commenced in February last year and the government’s Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Bill was introduced during this year’s sitting and is listed for debate today.
Voluntary use of green power, an increasing level of renewable energy in the national energy market, and renewable energy generated in response to the ACT’s feed-in tariff scheme give the government confidence it will meet its target of 15 per cent of energy from renewable sources by the end of this year and 25 per cent by 2020. The SOE report highlights that the ACT continues to enjoy good outdoor air quality.
Suggested areas for improvement in the territory are also identified in the report. One key issue is the growing ACT ecological footprint, an indicator of consumption and population growth. Other areas for improvement include further reduction of waste generation on a per capita basis, the meeting of the government’s carbon reduction targets and continuing to improve water quality in Canberra’s lakes and waterways.
The government is mindful of the need to encourage measured economic growth whilst promoting change to more sustainable behaviours. The government will build on its time to talk consultations and continue to engage with the community as we develop future policies, programs and actions to continue to improve the sustainability of the ACT.
The findings of this state of the environment report reinforce the need to take strong action on climate change and to continue to implement policies to further reduce waste generation. Now is not the time to walk away from targets to deliver these important outcomes. The ACT government will not walk away from these issues as other state Liberal governments have done in recent times.
I am pleased to table the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment’s ACT state of the environment report for 2011. I commend the report to the Assembly and
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